Effect of Soil Incorporated Pruned Pigeon pea and Nitrogen on System Productivity in Maize/Pigeon pea Intercropping

አህፅሮትበቆሎን በተመሳሳይ ማሣ ላይ አከታትሎ በማምረት የሚከሰተውን የምርት ማሽቆልቆል ገለባ ማሳ ላይ በማስቀረትና የተወሰነ የአፈር ማዳበሪያ በመጨመር መቀነስ ይቻላል፡፡ የዚህ ጥናት ዓላማ በቆሎንና የርግብ አተርን አሰባጥሮ በመዝራትና የርግብ አተርን ቅርንጫፍ ገርዞ ከአፈር ጋር በማወሃድና የናይትሮጂንን መጠን በመቀነስ በሰብል ምርትና በአፈር ንጥረ ነገር ላይ ያለውን ተፅዕኖ መለየት ነው፡፡ ጥናቱ የርግብ አተርን ቅርንጫፍ በመግረዝ ከላይ 0፤2፤4፤6 በማስቀረትና 18፤41፤64፤87፤110 ኪ.ግ. በሄክታር ናይትሮጂን በመጨመር በበኮ ግብርና ምርምር ማዕከል በ2005፤2006፤2007 ዓ.ም. ተከናወነ፡፡ በቆሎንና የርግብ አተርን አሰባጥሮ በመዝራት ታችኞቹን የርግብ አተር ቅርንጫፍ በመግረዝ 2 የላይኞቹን ማስቀረት ብቻውን ከተዘራው በቆሎ ጋር ሲነፃፀር የበቆሎ ምርትን 8% ሲጨምር ተጨማሪ ርግብ አተር 972 ኪ.ግ. በሄክታር አስገኝቷል፡፡ ይህ አሠራር አሲዳማነትን በመቀነስ የአፈርን ንጥረ ነገር ከመጨመሩም በላይ እነዚህን ሁለት ሰብሎች ለየብቻ ለመዝራት ይፈለግ ነበረውን ተጨማሪ 0.42 ሄክታር በማስቀረት ለበቆሎ ይጨመር የነበረውን ናይትሮጂን በመቀነስ ምርትን መጨመሩ ተረጋግጧል፡፡AbstractDecline of return in maize monoculture requires amendment of nutrients removed from the soil through retention of biomass on the soil with some addition of inorganic fertilizers. This study was executed for three consecutive years (2013-2015)to evaluate the effect of pruning levels while leaving the upper (0, 2, 4 and 6) parts of perennial pigeon pea and N levels (18, 41, 64, 87 and 110 kg ha-1) on yields of component crops and on some soil nutrients in maize/pigeon pea intercropping. The result indicated that the main effects due to pruning of pigeon pea and incorporation in to the soil and N level were significant for maize biomass weight during 2013 and 2014 and for maize grain yield throughout the experimental periods. Pruning of lower branches of pigeon pea while leaving the upper 2 in maize/pigeon pea intercropping increased grain yield of maize by 8% compared to the sole maize monocropping and produced a mean pigeon pea grain yield of 972 kg ha-1. It also reduced soil acidity, increased soil organic carbon, total N and available P compared to the sole maize monoculture. The highest LER of 1.42 and the highest net benefit of Birr 32,347 ha-1 were also obtained due to pruning of pigeon pea while leaving the upper 2 and incorporating in to the soil in intercropping of maize/pigeon pea at reduced N level. This branch management at reduced N level is recommended for the high productivity and reduced resource use efficiency for sub-humid areas of Bako

Multiple Advantages of Pigeon Pea (Cajanas Cajan) in Maize Based Cropping Systems: Used as Live Stake for Climbing Bean with Phosphorus Rates and Maize Productivity Enhancement in Mono Cropping Areas

Continuous maize based monoculture is one of the major bottlenecks limiting land and crop productivity in western Ethiopia. Pigeon pea plays vital role in rehabilitating degraded land and depleted soils due to its high N-fixation capacity, high biomass production and high litter fall. It can also support climbing bean as live stake. Two sets of the experiment were conducted for five consecutive years at Bako Agricultural Research Center. In 2009 and 2010 cropping seasons, pigeon pea was established and two crops (tef and finger millet) which were considered as one factor were under sown as tangua systems until the pigeon pea reaches its maximum growth. In 2010 and 2011, climbing bean was planted in established pigeon pea under different pruning options ( 25%,50% and 75% branch remaining) and with P2O5 rates (0,15,30 and 46 kg/ha). Thus treatments were arranged in factorial combinations and replicated three times. In 2011 and 2012, maize was planted on the permanent plots that two crops sown during pigeon pea establishment and received pigeon pea biomass under different pruning options  and with N application rates (0, 36, 72 and 110 kg/ha) and designed in RCBD factorial arrangement. The result revealed that better biomass and grain yield of finger millet under sown during the establishment of pigeon pea was obtained compared to tef.  Significant yield increase of climbing bean was recorded when percentage of pigeon pea branch removal was increased. Application of phosphorus increased grain yield of climbing bean, but there was no significant difference on yield of pigeon pea. Seasonal variability highly affected maize yield performance and the yield was highly reduced during 2012 compared to 2011 due to the lowest annual rainfall amount received in this season against the last ten years. There was strong and positive correlation of maize yield and annual rainfall of cropping season. Maize yield was not significantly different due to the residual effects of pigeon pea biomass retained under different pruning levels. But, highly significant yield increase was observed due to residual effects of retained biomass as compared to farmers’ practices and even under maize-climbing bean intercropping. Application of N  to maize planted on previous plots that received pigeon pea biomass showed no significant variations though the  better yield was recorded when 33 kg/ha N and 72 kg/ha N were applied in 2012 and 2011 cropping seasons, respectively. However, significant yield increases were obtained when the crop was planted on previous plots that were retained by pigeon pea biomass, regardless of N application rates, compared to the sole maize monoculture and in intercropping system. The result also clarifies the performance of maize without N application gave similar grain yield compared to current farmers’ practices. Generally, significant yield increment by 6-17% and 5-30% over farmers’ practices were recorded in 2011 and 2012, respectively. In short rainy season, maize yield planted on previous plots retained by pigeon pea biomass or as litter fall and with no N performed significantly better than farmers’ practices. Retention of pigeon pea biomass or released as litter fall on the following year for maize production can also significantly reduce 66-100% of the total recommended N while significantly increase maize yield. In 2013, the maize was planted on the permanent plots that had pigeon biomass or litter fall and with no chemical fertilizers revealed more than 100% and 75% yield increments as compared to yield of maize under intercrops and farmers’ practices. Indeed, pigeon pea can be used as live stake for climbing bean production or pigeon pea-climbing bean intercropping at appropriate pruning level (up to 50% to 75% branch removals). Moreover, the buildup of soil fertility through establishing pigeon pea and its biomass retention evidently boost the productivity of the soil and even 100% reduction of chemical N fertilizer cost. Hence farmers are advised not to apply any N fertilizer sources in the following years since its left over effects significantly enhance maize yield. However, further investigation is needed to specify the frequency of organic matter buildup using this pigeon pea plant and its impact on availability of naturally fixed nutrients, likes phosphorus. Keywords: Pigeon pea, Climbing bean, Pruning levels, Nitrogen, Phosphoru

Path Coefficient and Correlation Studies of Yield and Yield Associated Traits in Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Genotypes at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, South East Ethiopia

Yield and yield contributing traits were studied in sixty four bread wheat genotypes using a simple lattice design in order to find out the genetic contribution of different characters towards grain yield at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center during 2014/15 main cropping season. The genotypes showed significant variation for all the traits studied except for biomass yield ha-1. Results showed that grain yield had positive and significant correlation with 1000 kernel weight, harvest index and hectoliter weight at both levels. Days to 50% heading exerted highly significant and positive association with days to maturity (0.79**), biomass yield per plot (0.55**), number of productive tillers per plant (0.47**) and number of grains per plant (0.43**) at genotypic level. Days to 50% heading had significant positive phenotypic correlation with days to 75% maturity and significant negative phenotypic association with grain filling period. It had non-significant association with the rest of the traits. Thousand kernel weight had positive and highly significant phenotypic correlation with harvest index (0.48**), hectoliter weight (0.51**) and grain yield (0.51**). Harvest index showed positive and highly significant correlation with 1000 kernel weight (0.48**), hectoliter weight (0.41**) and grain yield per hectare (0.86**) and non-significant association with the rest traits at phenotypic level irrespective of direction. Maximum positive direct effect was exhibited by days to 75% maturity (1.189) followed by harvest index (1.057). This suggests the correlation revealed true relationship and direct selection through these characters is effective. Keywords: Phenotypic correlation, genotypic correlation, direct effect & indirect effect

Genotype X Environment Interaction and Yield Stabliity of Breade Wheat (Triticum Eastivum L.) Genotype in Ethiopia using the Ammi Analisis

The G x E interaction makes it difficult to select the best performing as well as the most stable genotypes and so its efficient interpretation is important issue in plant improvement in Ethiopia. The study cried out with objectives of to estimate the effect of genotype x environment interaction on the grain yield and stability and estimate magnitude of Genotype x Environment interaction of bread wheat genotypes in   Ethiopia. Thirty Bread wheat genotypes were evaluated by Alpha lattice design using three replications at eight locations in Ethiopia during 2014/2015 cropping season. The genotypes performed best at Asassa with mean grain yield of 5.71 tons/ha. Most genotypes had however, low yield at Holleta with mean gain yield of 3.05tons/ha. AMMI analysis for the additive main effect and multiplicative interaction effect revealed significant difference for genotype, testing location and genotype by testing location interaction. The first interaction principal component (IPCA 1) captured the most of interaction 39.56% and the second interaction principal component explains additional 27%. Totally the tow interaction principal component captured 66.56% of the genotype by location interaction. According to ASV Genotype ETBW8515 (20) and ETBW8513 (16) were high yielding and stable. Using AMMI analysis Asassa (As), Debre Tabor (D), Segure (Se), Adet (Ad) and Bekoji (Be) testing locations were favorable locations while testing location Holetta (Ho), Kulumsa (Ku) and Areka (Ar) were unfavorable. Keywords: AMMI, ASV, Genotype x Environment Interaction

Genetic Variability Studies in Bread Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Genotypes at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, South East Ethiopia

Sixty four bread wheat genotypes were tested in a simple lattice design at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center during 2014/15 main cropping seasonto estimate the extent of genetic variability. The genotypes showed significant variation for all the traitsstudied except for biomass yield ha-1 and relatively wide range of the mean values for most of the characters indicated the existence of variations among the tested genotypes.Moderate PCV and GCV were recorded for 1000 kernel weight, grain yield, harvest index, number of grains spike-1 and number of productive tiller. High heritability values were observed for days to heading, days to maturity, grain filling period, 1000 kernel weight, number of spikelet spike-1, spike length and plant height. Moderate PCV and GCV were recorded for 1000 kernel weight, grain yield, harvest index, number of grains spike-1 and number of productive tiller. Among the characters 1000 kernel weight showed high values of genetic gain whereas days to maturity, grain yield, harvest index, productive tillers and number of grains plant-1 had moderate  values of genetic advance as percent of mean (GAM). The D2 analysis showed that the 64 genotypes were clustered into nine clusters. Maximum inter cluster distance was observed between cluster I and IX (D2=5112.1), followed by that between clusters III and IX (D2=4694.4) and VIII and IX (D2=3871.9) which had shown they were genetically more divergent from each other than any other clusters. Crosses between genotypes selected from cluster I with cluster IX, cluster III with cluster IX and cluster VIII with cluster IX are expected to produce relatively better genetic recombination and segregation in their progenies.Principal components (PC1 to PC6) having Eigenvalue greater than one (significant), accounted 77.20% of the total variation. The first two principal components PC1 and PC2 with values of 22.3% and 17.4% respectively, contributed more to the total variation. According to their mean performance, genotypes Alidoro (5955.0 ± 480.83261a), Dure (5627.5 ± 604.57630ab) and Sanate (5322.5±781.35299abc) were the best yielders. The present result is only an indication and we cannot reach a definite conclusion. Therefore, it is advisable to continue with this study over several years and locations. Keywords: Genetic variability, Heritability, PCV, GCV, Genetic advanc

Chronological Age and Training Age as Determinants of Soccer Specific Speeds

The main purpose of this study was to unveil how chronological and training age or maturity of soccer players relate or affect linear sprinting speed, repeated sprinting ability (RSA), and change-of direction speed (CODS) performance. Competitive soccer players at the Ethiopian national soccer league level participated in the study. A total of 88 volunteered soccer players (age, 22.25±2.27 years old; training age; 9.38±2.78 years) who were free from any kind of injury at the time of data collection completed the study protocol. While age was calculated using a player’s birth certificate, fitness performance was measured using specific test protocols for each fitness element. For credibility, fitness test was conducted on a weekly basis for about five consecutive weeks and the average was taken. Bivariate correlation, partial correlation and GLM analyses were used. The bivariate correlation showed that sprinting speed (r (88) = - .254, p=.017), CODS (r (88) = -216, p.043) and RSA best (r (88) = 0.235, p=.028) significantly correlated with age (p<.05). However, RSA total time, RSA average and RSA worst did not correlate with age. With training age, only CODS showed small, but significant negative correlation (r (88) = -.230, p=.031). While sprinting speed significantly correlated with maturity, other qualities that rely on the ability to produce the best performance repeatedly did not relate with age or training age. These findings suggest that speed and speed related performances depend on maturity and genetic make-up and these are less trainable qualities that may not significantly improve over time

Genotype X Environment Interaction and Yield Stabliity of Breade Wheat (Triticum Eastivum L.) Genotype in Ethiopia using the Ammi Analisis

The G x E interaction makes it difficult to select the best performing as well as the most stable genotypes and so its efficient interpretation is important issue in plant improvement in Ethiopia. The study cried out with objectives of to estimate the effect of genotype x environment interaction on the grain yield and stability and estimate magnitude of Genotype x Environment interaction of bread wheat genotypes in   Ethiopia. Thirty Bread wheat genotypes were evaluated by Alpha lattice design using three replications at eight locations in Ethiopia during 2014/2015 cropping season. The genotypes performed best at Asassa with mean grain yield of 5.71 tons/ha. Most genotypes had however, low yield at Holleta with mean gain yield of 3.05tons/ha. AMMI analysis for the additive main effect and multiplicative interaction effect revealed significant difference for genotype, testing location and genotype by testing location interaction. The first interaction principal component (IPCA 1) captured the most of interaction 39.56% and the second interaction principal component explains additional 27%. Totally the tow interaction principal component captured 66.56% of the genotype by location interaction. According to ASV Genotype ETBW8515 (20) and ETBW8513 (16) were high yielding and stable. Using AMMI analysis Asassa (As), Debre Tabor (D), Segure (Se), Adet (Ad) and Bekoji (Be) testing locations were favorable locations while testing location Holetta (Ho), Kulumsa (Ku) and Areka (Ar) were unfavorable. Keywords: AMMI, ASV, Genotype x Environment Interaction

The prevalence of epilepsy in the Zay Society, Ethiopia—An area of high prevalence

SummaryVery high prevalence rates of epilepsy have been found in some developing countries. The Zay Society of Ethiopia was screened for epilepsy during a door-to-door survey and after neurological assessment, a prevalence of 29.5/1000 was found. Almost all the cases had primary generalised epilepsy in contrast to the predominance of partial epilepsy found elsewhere. Due to its historical isolation, epilepsy genes may have become widely disseminated throughout the Zay Society, accounting for the elevated prevalence

Producer price and price transmission in a deregulated Ethiopian coffee market

Coffee producers in Ethiopia have historically received a very small share of the export price of green coffee. Reasons that are often mentioned are heavy government intervention and high marketing and processing costs. Prior to 1992, government regulation of the domestic coffee market in the form of fixed producer prices and the monopoly power of the Ethiopian Coffee Marketing Corporation put a substantial wedge between the producer price and the world price of coffee by imposing an implicit tax on producers. The domestic coffee marketing system in Ethiopia was liberalised after 1992, which was envisaged to have a positive effect on producer prices and price transmission signals from world markets to producers. This paper, with the help of Cointegration and Error-Correction Model (ECM), attempts to analyse its impact. As findings indicate, the reforms induced stronger long-run relationships among grower, wholesaler and exporter prices. The estimation of the ECM shows that the short-run transmission of price signals from world to domestic markets has improved, but has remained weak in both auction-to-world and producer-to-auction markets. This might be explained by the weak institutional arrangement coordinating the domestic coffee system and contract enforcement. In general, the domestic price adjusts more rapidly to world price changes today than it did prior to the reforms. However, there is an indication that negative price changes transmit much faster than positive ones.market deregulation, producer price, price transmission, price asymmetry,